Among the many side effects that come with pregnancy, headaches are of one of the more unpleasant for many women. Women normally experience pregnancy headaches during their first and last trimesters.
Pregnancy headaches are mainly due to the factors such as increased blood volume, hormonal changes and the initial stresses in the first three months. But usually poor posture is the main cause of pregnancy headaches in the final three months. Poor posture can usually result in pressure on the parts of the body and these discomforts are communicated with the brain and leads to pregnancy headaches
On the other hand, there are some migraineurs who report experiencing fewer pregnancy headaches. The hormones such as estrogen and progesterone in women mainly regulate the pregnancy and menstrual cycle.
These hormones also affect the chemicals in the brain that are related with the pregnancy headache. As the level of estrogen increases or decreases in the blood, the level of serotonin also changes accordingly. Serotonin is one of the brain chemicals, which helps to regulate the pain messages. The pregnancy headache improves when the estrogen level is high and headache become worse when the estrogen level is low. Estrogen level tends to increase rapidly and remains high throughout the pregnancy period. In this case, the pregnancy headaches improve or disappear.
Estrogen levels can be stabilized with the lactation. Lactation also increases the levels of other hormones that are related with the sensitivity of pain. The pregnant women need to be cautious about the headache medications during the breast feeding.
Most of the pregnancy headaches are occurring from causes that are not dangerous to the health. But the patient needs to consult the physician if the headaches get frequent or the patient experience swelling of the hands or face.
Sometimes, pregnancy headaches can also become a symptom for any other serious problem. Headache might be a sign of severe preeclampsia in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is one of the serious pregnancy-induced syndromes including protein in the urine, high blood pressure, and other changes. If the pregnancy headache occurs due to tension, the patients feels like compressing pain on the back of the neck or on both sides of the head.
Usually pregnancy headache disappears during the second trimester. This is due to the stabilization of the flood of hormones and the adaptation of body with the altered chemistry. At the first and last trimesters, pregnant women need to take some precautions to avoid such headaches. They need to consult their health care provider if the headache is sudden, explosive and includes a violent pain, which awakens from the sleep.
Pregnancy headache, which occurs with fever, stiff neck, nasal congestion, pain and pressure on the underneath of eyes, also needs consultation with a physician. All these factors show that pregnancy headaches need to be taken seriously than normal headaches.
Sandra Kim Leong
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/pregnancy-headaches-56232.html
13 comments ↓
Pregnancy Headaches?
Do you get really bad headaches? I got really bad headaches in the beginning of my pregnancy, then they went away. Now they are back (almost 24 weeks). Dr says I can take Tylenol or Tylenol Sinus but it does nothing. What do you do for your headaches?
Yes- I’ve had them BAD… I wake up with one nearly every morning. Almost feels as though I’m hungover!!! I take Tylenol 500, drink a lot of water, and then have a soda as well. I drink the water to stay hydrated but the caffeine might me what gets rid of it for me….I had them my first trimester as well, and I’ve had them the past 5 weeks or so…hoping they go away and I don’t have to deal with them the last 10 weeks!
References :
I have put Biofreeze (you get this at the Chiropractor’s office) on my temples or in the back of my neck where the headache is and it has worked. Otherwise, I grin and bear it. It’s all we can do unfortunately.
Also, you could be dehydrated. Drink lots of water!! That works too.
References :
Ugh, I remember the pregnancy headaches. I liked frozen peas on the back of the head, and Head On (apply directly to your… oh, I’m sure you know what to do).
Tylenol is a joke.
References :
i have been a lifetime migraine sufferer. they subsided a bit , but when i got pregnant (with twins no less) they came back with a VENGENCE. i couldnt work,,i couldnt stand, i did nothing. my dr prescribed tylenol with codiene.
make sure you are getting enough fluids as headaches can come from dehydration,,,watch what you are eating do you get them after certain foods (allergy). if you are having alot of trouble with headaches speak to your dr again,,,has he checked your blood pressure? that can cause headache also,,,as can your blood sugar.
References :
I had bad headaches too and I never really had problems with headaches before. I didn’t take anything. I would just use one of those eye masks that you can freeze. That seemed to help.
http://1sttimeparents-whatdowedonow.blogspot.com
References :
I suffer from headaches anyway, but now that I’m pregnant they seem to be more frequent. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. I know it’s a drag to have to run to the bathroom every 5 seconds, but it will help.
I try to not take too much medication, but I know that Tylenol is fine while pregnant. If nothing else, just try to lie down a while. Hope you feel better!
References :
take some motion they work alot
References :
I had migraines before pregnancy and they are worse with pregnancy! My doctor prescribed Floricet. It is one of the pain killers that we pregnant women can take. Before I got pregnant I was taking another pill for my headaches, but these work just the same.
References :
I got terrible migrains all through pregnancy. Now I know this sounds weird, but this is what I did for them and it worked perfectly: Cut a lime, rub the fresh juice on your forehead and temples. Thats it. Gets rid of them and keeps them away for a while. Apparently there is something in the lime juice that penetrates the skin and relieves the tention in the blood vessels. I use it all the time now. Tylenol never did anything for me, but this always works and is so healthy for you, no liver damge with this unlike pills.
References :
Headaches are caused by hormones, and the changes in the weather…the only thing you can take is tylenol.
References :
I got (& still get) headaches that could kill a grown man Terrible mind numbing pain! What i ended up doing was getting a massage It improved my circulation & relaxed me endlessly I found a wonderful specialist that does prenatal massages but most regular massage places have some1 who does prenatal Tell them to focus on your neck back & shoulders Its a dream, you will feel like a million bucks afterward!
References :
I had severe headaches between weeks 4 and 7. tylenol was not much help. usually I’d lay in my room lights with the lights off with a warm towel on my head and draped around my neck. then i’d have my fiance give me a massage, mine were tension headaches but finally the have stopped. hope u feel better soon
References :